“My horns…hurt…and…there’s a strange…feeling… Agh!”
“Fi is in pain! This is the same, as that time, the Demon King Castle!”
‘Impossible! Such a thing could not happen in such a small space…’
‘It must be from the summoning.’
Canila said, and Sheto felt a chill. The light that Keita made began to sway unsteadily.
‘His body must be reacting to the flow of mana, which occurs when a gate is connected to another world.’
“Su-summon… Are they, calling a devil…?”
‘Would they really do that just to drive us out?’
Sheto quietly picked up the small dragon and laid him gently down in a corner of the room.
“Wait here. I will, silence the noise.”
“Do…don’t be reckless… Not for me.”
Sheto patted Fi on the head and then stood up with bow in hand.
‘Fi is in pain, and it will be bad if the summoning ritual is completed. We should work quickly then.’
“Keita. The large fire, you did earlier. Can you do it?”
“Sorry. If I was outside… But if I did it here, the heat would reach us, even from the other room.”
‘Perhaps you could send Sheto ahead with invisibility?’
‘Even with invisibility, he will not be able to get past the row of shields. Besides, it only lasts for one minute, so he’d be caught immediately even if he got through.’
The possibility arose and was then dispersed. And only time passed. Sheto petted Guto, who looked up anxiously. And then he heard Salia’s voice.
Sheto. Is there a wooden shield nearby?’
“…Aye.”
‘Alright. Keita. I have a request to ask of you.’
“…What?”
Keita must have sensed something in Salia’s tense voice, as he turned a little pale.
Still, the goddess opened her mouth to say what was necessary.
‘Sorry, but I need you to be bait.’
While taking the position in front of the exit, Shelban watched over the ritual.
The magicians prayed while they surrounded the magic stone, and power began to gather around the magic circle that was drawn on the ceiling.
There was not much, after sending power to the Demon King castle, but it was enough to open a portal.
“Just a little more and…!?”
He heard some noise coming from the next room, and opened the door.
The armed hobgoblins turned to look at him with confused expressions.
“What happened!”
“Lord Shelban! Over there!”
From the room where they kept the ritual equipment, a single great shield had appeared. It was clear that there was someone behind it, as it slowly approached them.
“What are you waiting for? Hurry up and shoot it!”
“Bu-but…it is clearly bait…”
“All the more reason! Hurry up and crush it so you have less concerns! And those on the edges of the formation, stay on your guard!”
A kobold, Hero, wolf and a small dragon had entered the dungeon.
Likely, they wanted to use the shield as a distraction, so that the kobold could ride on the wolf and charge through the formation.
“Archers, take aim… Fire!”
About ten arrows screeched as they shot through the air. Even with a shield like that, it should not be able to withstand such an attack.
“What!?”
The arrows bounced off as if they hit a wall of steel. What’s more, they did not make a single scratch.
“Do-don’t back down! It must be using magic! We will resist with our own curses!”
The archer did as he said, and nocked their arrows. By now, the shield was in the middle of the room. If it came any closer, they wouldn’t be in range.
“Now! Fire!”
The cursed arrows shot towards the shield and shattered it into pieces.
“Yes… Huh!?”
But there was no one on the other side. Just empy space.
Realizing what this meant, Shelban screamed.
“It disappeared! All of you, raise your shields! Stay close with your backs to the door!”
After receiving orders, the goblins moved around him. And on the other side of the wall of meat, he heard the sounds of rough breathing coming from a charging beast.
“Target the wolf! Push your shields in the direction that the noise is coming from!”
“The blazing sun’s spear is in my grasp.”
Came the change, and then the Hero wielding a staff appeared in the empty air. Those who had been focusing on the wolf turned their heads in surprise, and there was momentary confusion in their defenses.
“Harmonized steel, forged in radiant echoes… Sharpen your might and pierce through the void.”
The archers switched to shields, and were in a defensive formation again. There was still too much distance to make them charge.
“Instant Blaze Inferno!”
While slipping past the wall of shields, Shelban quickly changed and closed in on the Hero.
“Burn his flesh!”
Just as he thrust out his right hand, the kobold suddenly appeared and raised his shining cape.
“What!?”
The unleashed fire dispersed weakly.
“Pierce, Sun Piercing Thrust!”
Golden light shot through Shelban’s chest.
“Gah…! Ahh!”
“Go! Guto!”
Upon hearing the order, the wolf jumped over the shield-bearer and disappeared behind the door.